If it looked like Russell Wilson was having fun playing quarterback for the Seahawks in his first two seasons with the club, you should see him now.

“I’m having so much fun out here — probably more fun than I’ve ever had before,” he said Thursday.

How is that possible?

“Just trying to be in the moment every day, every snap, every rep, just really working on my craft,” he said. “If I can do that, it will give us a better chance to make all the consistent plays but also the big-time plays when we need it.”

Wilson said he is continuing to try to do everything “with a purpose … trying to click into game mode. How can I visualize this situation and feel this situation and be in the moment every time? If I can do that, I give myself a chance.”

Wilson was sacked more times per pass attempt than any quarterback in the league last season, so protection is a focus this camp.

“One of our goals is to do everything we can to get me a little more time to make decisions because we’ve got the guys who can really get open … they’re doing a really good job,” he said.

BATES ON THE RISE

Both Wilson and coach Pete Carroll cited the efforts of receiver Phil Bates, a third-year converted quarterback from Ohio University.

“He’s done such a good job all offseason,” Wilson said. “He’s a guy who worked so hard. He’s got great speed and huge hands; he catches the ball extremely hard. He’s dedicated to his craft.”

Carroll independently touted Bates as the Seahawk who had a “great week.”

“He’s really been productive,” Carroll said. “He’s been active and made a bunch of big plays. This is the culmination of a couple years of work to get him to this point. He adapted from the quarterback spot. He has really sculpted his body and looks like a receiver. He has all the movements down and he’s a tough competitor.”

Bates has shown his skills as a former quarterback a couple times in camp throwing passes from the receiver spot.

EXTRA POINTS

With this being Marine Week in Seattle, a number of members of the armed forces were in attendance. A group of Marines was on the sidelines near Lake Washington early in practice, and Seahawks general manager John Schneider worked his way down the line, shaking hands with each and introducing himself. “It’s just a great thing to be out here and to be around them and for them to share their experiences with us and for us to share our experiences with them,” Wilson said. … Carroll said that Saturday’s practice will be a “mock game” to try to get the team geared up for next Thursday’s preseason opener against the Broncos in Denver.